Book Details
- Author: Alan Spence
- Publisher: T & T Clark (2009)
- Category: Theology
Discerning Reader Editorial Review
Reviewed 03/31/2010 by Ian Clary.
Recommended. A helpful, if slightly incomplete, introduction to the topic of Christology.
Christology is a daunting subject – its history and theology paint a complex picture. Thankfully, Alan Spence offers readers an able introduction. His work is a good contribution to the "Guide for the Perplexed" series.
Spence, the author of a study of John Owen's Christology, is well qualified to introduce his subject. He traces Christology from the church's response to gnosticism, through Arianism, to the issues surrounding Chalcedon. He studies Owen's unique understanding of the Spirit and Christ's humanity, liberalism's extended Socinianism and modern discussions by Barth and Pannenberg.
There are, however, glaring omissions in Spence’s work. For instance, the towering figures of Augustine and Aquinas are absent. Nor is there mention of the "myth of God incarnate" debate of the late twentieth-century. Unfortunately, there are a number of typographical errors.
In spite of such problems, Spence should be thanked for his treatment of Owen, whose Christology is often neglected. Christology will be useful for pastors, educated lay-people and undergraduate students. For this one should consult the work of Donald MacLeod and Oliver Crisp.
